Thu., 5:59 pm: Utah governor flooded with letters on gay marriage

January 16, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY - More than 2,700 calls, emails and letters flooded Utah Gov. Gary Herbert's office in the days and weeks after a federal judge said gay couples could marry in the state.

Herbert, a Republican, has pledged to defend Utah's same-sex marriage ban after the judge overturned it Dec. 20.

Since then, his office has received about 1,800 phone calls, letters and emails from same-sex marriage supporters and another 900 calls and letters from opponents.

Many opposed to gay marriage said they felt their votes had been invalidated and their religious views ignored, while supporters shared personal stories.

More than 1,000 gay couples married during the 17 days same-sex marriage was legal, before the U.S. Supreme Court halted the weddings Jan. 6. Utah has appealed to the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.